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The region’s largest purpose-built terminal has approximately 120 ground staff to accommodate visitors
KT Photo by Neeraj Murali
Dina, a young mother, came to Dubai from Germany with her 10-month-old baby boy on board the cruise ship AIDAcosma, which was docked in Dubai. Dina is accompanied by her mother and sister – the family is on a “girls trip”. “Every year we travel, it’s just the three of us, but this is the first time we’ve taken our kids on vacation,” she said. “Tomorrow, my sister and I will go exploring in the desert while my mother will take care of the children.”
Dina and her family are among the hundreds of thousands of people who come to the city on cruise ships. Home to 46 cruise ships, Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal (DHCT) is at the forefront of a resurgence in cruise tourism in the region and globally.
This year, the marina at the junction of Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters is expected to welcome more than 300,000 visitors, a fourfold increase from last year’s 70,000 visitors.
KT Photo by Neeraj Murali
“For a city like Dubai, the cruise industry plays a vital role in the overall tourism strategy,” said Abdulla Binhabtoor, chief portfolio management officer at Shamal Holdings, owner and manager of Dubai Harbour.
“The cruise industry supports the national economy through significant passenger spending across multiple verticals including leisure attractions, dining and entertainment, contributing to job creation and industry growth.”
harrij times Go behind the scenes at DHCT and learn how this operation, which handles an average of 21,000 people each weekend, works.
the arrival of a ship
Opening in November 2021, DHCT is the largest independent cruise terminal in the Eastern Hemisphere. Its capacity has been steadily expanding, and the terminal is now ready to accommodate large vessels accommodating up to 5,500 passengers.
On an average day, there are about 120 staff at the terminal waiting for ships to arrive on the ground.and the team Korea Telecom During the visit, the ship AIDAcosma arrived at the pier.
The liner has a capacity of 5,500 passengers with an impressive 20 passenger decks and 2,600 staterooms. With 17 restaurants, an amusement park with water slides, a spa, theatre, gym, disco and teen club, the ship has become a favorite for couples and families with children.
With two ships at homeport – Costa Toscana and AIDAcosma – Abdulla said there was an additional set of challenges. “We typically receive about 10 to 20 food containers per week, which means we have to ensure the seamless movement of this food on and off the ship,” he said. DHCT’s team also handles an average of 35,000 bags per weekend.
run smoothly
Once the ship arrives, the quiet terminal is thrown into a hustle and bustle as border control, airlines and immigration work with DHCT to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Visitors can pass through security, customs, and immigration before setting out to explore the city. An assortment of travel agencies and tour buses stop outside the terminal, taking those arriving at their chosen location.
“Most young tourists prefer modern attractions such as the Dubai Mall or Burj Khalifa,” said a local tour operator.
“Older tourists like to go to the Deira Souk or Shindagha area to learn more about the history and culture of the city.”
Christian and his wife arrived from Luxembourg on a cruise ship. “I came to Dubai with my parents 10 years ago,” he said.
“We also took cruises back then, and I really enjoyed it. So now my wife and I are back exploring the city and maybe reliving some of those memories.”
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